Coolant smell inside

Azzurri · 12-23-2008, 08:17 PM

Just picked up a 2000 Blazer 4wd last week (started dumping snow the next day, lol), and it would seem I've got a coolant leak somewhere. I can faintly smell it inside the truck, it's just a slow leak because the coolant level hasn't dropped significantly, and it's not wet at all in the usual spot where the heater core would have puked everything up. The heat also isn't the greatest, and takes a long time to get going. The engine temp is fine (around 85 C, I think that's around 190 for the US guys). I haven't had a chance to do a whole lot of investigating because it's frickin freezing right now, but there's nothing leaking on the ground as far as I can tell.

I've done 3 heater cores on 1st gens, so I know what I could be into, but those always just went, they never leaked slowly. Been doing a little reading on here, and I'm hoping maybe it's just clogged and a back flush might take care of this. Any thoughts? Would a clogged heater core cause a small leak as well?

GMCon22s · 12-26-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Azzurri

Just picked up a 2000 Blazer 4wd last week (started dumping snow the next day, lol), and it would seem I've got a coolant leak somewhere. I can faintly smell it inside the truck, it's just a slow leak because the coolant level hasn't dropped significantly, and it's not wet at all in the usual spot where the heater core would have puked everything up. The heat also isn't the greatest, and takes a long time to get going. The engine temp is fine (around 85 C, I think that's around 190 for the US guys). I haven't had a chance to do a whole lot of investigating because it's frickin freezing right now, but there's nothing leaking on the ground as far as I can tell.

I've done 3 heater cores on 1st gens, so I know what I could be into, but those always just went, they never leaked slowly. Been doing a little reading on here, and I'm hoping maybe it's just clogged and a back flush might take care of this. Any thoughts? Would a clogged heater core cause a small leak as well?

I dont know 100% but it sounds like the heater core is leaking. When I was buying a Jimmy I was looking at I kept hearing sloshing while I was test driving it and one of the questions they asked was does it smell like coolant inside the car so im pretty sure you just need to replace the heater core.

Yogi · 12-26-2008, 12:29 PM

A clogged heater core could cause a leak - over time. That's because the clog indicates deposits, and deposits are where corrosion likes to get started. Clean surfaces with good antifreeze (providing good corrosion protection) don't usually corrode and leak.

Azzurri · 01-20-2009, 08:27 PM

Just bumping this again to see if anyone has any more thoughts.

Coolant level did not drop, at all... zero. Nothing is leaking from anywhere that I can see, nothing on the carpet, but I still get that smell whenever I crank on the heat, I'm stumped. I've got a new heater core on the way, but I just want to be sure before I start tearing the dash apart. Is it possible there's a hole on top of the heater core where nothing would leak out?

JayPerpich · 01-23-2009, 12:45 AM

maybe there is coolant in the heater core box, and when the heat blows you smell it, when my heater core went if i put the defroster on, it would fog the inside of the windshield with coolant vapor

let us know when you get the new heater core in what the old one looked like

ProfessorKaos · 01-23-2009, 02:12 AM

did it have the orange coolant in it before?

orangecounty · 01-23-2009, 02:15 AM

it might not be leaking but when you smell it inside its usually about to go out.. atleast from what iv always seen

SmokeeJay · 01-23-2009, 02:58 AM

I replaced my heater core in my 97 SS less than a year ago and it just started smelling inside. I was told it could be the head or intake gaskets.

SmokeeJay · 01-23-2009, 04:26 AM

The guy that told me my head gasket or intake gasket was causing the coolant smell in my truck was wrong. On the way home from work about an hour ago the heater core blew and now my passenger floor board is covered in coolant. The heater core is about 9-10 months old. Luckily it is under warranty for 12 months.

SH-60B · 01-23-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Azzurri

Just bumping this again to see if anyone has any more thoughts.

Coolant level did not drop, at all... zero. Nothing is leaking from anywhere that I can see, nothing on the carpet, but I still get that smell whenever I crank on the heat, I'm stumped. I've got a new heater core on the way, but I just want to be sure before I start tearing the dash apart. Is it possible there's a hole on top of the heater core where nothing would leak out?

Check the hose connections too. Maybe one has a small leak and it's running down the core tube.

12-23-2008, 08:17 PM	#1
Azzurri Registered User Age: 27 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 105 Location: North Delta, BC User is: OffLine	Coolant smell inside Just picked up a 2000 Blazer 4wd last week (started dumping snow the next day, lol), and it would seem I've got a coolant leak somewhere. I can faintly smell it inside the truck, it's just a slow leak because the coolant level hasn't dropped significantly, and it's not wet at all in the usual spot where the heater core would have puked everything up. The heat also isn't the greatest, and takes a long time to get going. The engine temp is fine (around 85 C, I think that's around 190 for the US guys). I haven't had a chance to do a whole lot of investigating because it's frickin freezing right now, but there's nothing leaking on the ground as far as I can tell. I've done 3 heater cores on 1st gens, so I know what I could be into, but those always just went, they never leaked slowly. Been doing a little reading on here, and I'm hoping maybe it's just clogged and a back flush might take care of this. Any thoughts? Would a clogged heater core cause a small leak as well?
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-26-2008, 11:41 AM	#2
GMCon22s Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 25 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Coolant smell inside Quote: Originally Posted by Azzurri Just picked up a 2000 Blazer 4wd last week (started dumping snow the next day, lol), and it would seem I've got a coolant leak somewhere. I can faintly smell it inside the truck, it's just a slow leak because the coolant level hasn't dropped significantly, and it's not wet at all in the usual spot where the heater core would have puked everything up. The heat also isn't the greatest, and takes a long time to get going. The engine temp is fine (around 85 C, I think that's around 190 for the US guys). I haven't had a chance to do a whole lot of investigating because it's frickin freezing right now, but there's nothing leaking on the ground as far as I can tell. I've done 3 heater cores on 1st gens, so I know what I could be into, but those always just went, they never leaked slowly. Been doing a little reading on here, and I'm hoping maybe it's just clogged and a back flush might take care of this. Any thoughts? Would a clogged heater core cause a small leak as well? I dont know 100% but it sounds like the heater core is leaking. When I was buying a Jimmy I was looking at I kept hearing sloshing while I was test driving it and one of the questions they asked was does it smell like coolant inside the car so im pretty sure you just need to replace the heater core.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-26-2008, 12:29 PM	#3
Yogi Registered (Ab) User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 4,093 Location: League City, TX (Houston) User is: OffLine	Re: Coolant smell inside A clogged heater core could cause a leak - over time. That's because the clog indicates deposits, and deposits are where corrosion likes to get started. Clean surfaces with good antifreeze (providing good corrosion protection) don't usually corrode and leak.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-20-2009, 08:27 PM	#4
Azzurri Registered User Age: 27 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 105 Location: North Delta, BC User is: OffLine	Re: Coolant smell inside Just bumping this again to see if anyone has any more thoughts. Coolant level did not drop, at all... zero. Nothing is leaking from anywhere that I can see, nothing on the carpet, but I still get that smell whenever I crank on the heat, I'm stumped. I've got a new heater core on the way, but I just want to be sure before I start tearing the dash apart. Is it possible there's a hole on top of the heater core where nothing would leak out?
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-23-2009, 12:45 AM	#5
JayPerpich Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 96 Location: Windsor Ontario, Canada User is: OffLine	Re: Coolant smell inside maybe there is coolant in the heater core box, and when the heat blows you smell it, when my heater core went if i put the defroster on, it would fog the inside of the windshield with coolant vapor let us know when you get the new heater core in what the old one looked like
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-23-2009, 02:12 AM	#6
ProfessorKaos Do you like fishdicks? Age: 22 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 124 Location: Oakfield, WI User is: OffLine	Re: Coolant smell inside did it have the orange coolant in it before?
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01-23-2009, 02:15 AM	#7
orangecounty Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 187 Location: central fl User is: OffLine	Re: Coolant smell inside it might not be leaking but when you smell it inside its usually about to go out.. atleast from what iv always seen
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01-23-2009, 02:58 AM	#8
SmokeeJay It's 4:20 Somewhere! Age: 37 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 660 Location: Douglasville, GA User is: OffLine	Re: Coolant smell inside I replaced my heater core in my 97 SS less than a year ago and it just started smelling inside. I was told it could be the head or intake gaskets.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-23-2009, 04:26 AM	#9
SmokeeJay It's 4:20 Somewhere! Age: 37 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 660 Location: Douglasville, GA User is: OffLine	Re: Coolant smell inside The guy that told me my head gasket or intake gasket was causing the coolant smell in my truck was wrong. On the way home from work about an hour ago the heater core blew and now my passenger floor board is covered in coolant. The heater core is about 9-10 months old. Luckily it is under warranty for 12 months.
	[Reply w/Quote]

01-23-2009, 01:27 PM	#10
SH-60B Registered Neanderthal Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,335 Location: Meriden/CT/USA User is: OffLine	Re: Coolant smell inside Quote: Originally Posted by Azzurri Just bumping this again to see if anyone has any more thoughts. Coolant level did not drop, at all... zero. Nothing is leaking from anywhere that I can see, nothing on the carpet, but I still get that smell whenever I crank on the heat, I'm stumped. I've got a new heater core on the way, but I just want to be sure before I start tearing the dash apart. Is it possible there's a hole on top of the heater core where nothing would leak out? Check the hose connections too. Maybe one has a small leak and it's running down the core tube.
	[Reply w/Quote]